The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is asking for the Prime Minister’s approval to its hosting of the 38th ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF 2019).

 Hosting the ATF will offer valuable opportunities for Vietnam to popularise famous tourist attractions.

The forum, which could be held in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City or Da Nang city, is said to bring together tourism officials and representatives from the ten ASEAN member states as well as dialogue partners from China, India Japan, the Republic of Korea and Russia

An ASEAN tourism minister conference, meetings of national tourism agency officials and an ASEAN Travel Expo (Travex), among others, are expected to form part of the forum.

Hosting the event will offer valuable opportunities for Vietnam to popularise the country’s people and popular tourist attractions.

First launched in 1981 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, ATF is the biggest annual and alternated event under the ASEAN tourism cooperation umbrella with a view to developing ASEAN into a regional tourism destination, contributing to bolstering exchanges and friendship cooperation as well as consolidating regional peace and prosperity.

The 35th ASEAN Travel Forum (ATF 2016), themed “One Community for Sustainability”, was held in the Philippines from January 18 to 22. Some 1,600 international delegates including ministerial officials, exhibitors, media and other travel industry professionals from 50 countries attended the event.

VNA